At Acer's Next event today, the company took the wraps off of its latest Predator gaming lineup. And if you're looking for power, there's plenty to like here.
At the top of the line is the new Predator Helios 500 notebook, which combines a high refresh rate display with Intel's latest processors and discrete NVIDIA graphics. The 17.3-inch IPS display is available in both 4K and 1080p options, with a 144Hz refresh rate if you opt for the 1080p model. Both, however, feature NVIDIA's G-Sync tech, which will keep frames buttery smooth and cut out screen tearing.
As for internals, Acer is packing in Intel's latest 8th Gen processors, with a beastly Core i9+ 8950HK processor at the top end. That's combined with 16GB of RAM (upgradable to 64GB) and up to 1TB of storage. Rounding things out is an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics chip with 8GB of GDDR5 VRAM, along with a Killer Wireless-AC card for networking.
On the desktop side of things, the Predator Orion series is getting a refresh as well. There are three to choose from, but going for the top end (P05-610) will net you Intel's 8th Gen processors with up to a Core i7+ 8700K. That's combined with up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR4 2666 MHz RAM, and up to 32GB of Intel's speedy Optane memory.
In terms of graphics, there's a variety of options to go with. You can equip the Predator Orion with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080Ti, 1080, 1070, or 1060, depending on your budget. The machine also supports 2-way graphics with SLI. Storage options include up to four 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD drives and 3TB of standard hard drive space. Killer networking is also available here.
Finally, if you're all in on the Predator series, Acer has a slew of accessories available under its name. Those range from massive mouse mats, to an RGB-packed mouse and keyboard, and even a gaming chair.
If all of that caught your eye, be prepared to pay a pretty penny. The Predator Helios 500 will be available in June in North America and China, starting at $1,999 and ¥15,999, respectively. EMEA residents can get their hands on it starting this month for €1,999.
Meanwhile, the Predator Orion 5000 desktops will become available in North America in July, starting at $1,499. Those in China and EMEA regions can get their hands on the 5000 series in June, starting at ¥15,999and €1,699, respectively. A lower-end Predator Orion 3000 series will be available in North America starting at $999 in October. China and EMEA regions will get this series in July for ¥6,999 and €1,299, respectively.
There's no word yet on when to expect the accessories lineup to launch.
